Ron Guth:
The large mintage of the 1845 Dime makes it one of the more common dates in the 1840's. Because 1845 Dimes are usually struck well and can be found in nice condition at affordable prices, they are often the date of choice for type collectors. The proper term for Mint State 1845 Dimes is "scarce", but there are quite a few examples in the MS62 to MS64 range. Gems are truly rare and only a few have been graded better than MS65. In fact, the finest example known today is the colorfully toned PCGS MS66+ illustrated above -- it is the only one at that level and none have been graded higher by PCGS.